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5 Tips To Build Teams That Can Overcome Challenges

William Craig | Forbes

Posted: 3/06/18

As a business owner, CEO, manager or other professional, you’ve probably heard you’re only as good as your worst employee. That holds true for many reasons, perhaps with the most notable being the direct effect your staff has on your company’s success. If you have one or more employees who are disengaged from your business, you’ll likely be able to see that in your financial numbers, as well.

While there are thousands of characteristics we tend to look for during the employee search, a team member’s ability to be engaged with the company’s goal and resilient to any obstacles are two traits you should never overlook.

The Importance Of Being Engaged And Resilient

The importance of employee engagement isn’t in question. Countless studies show employees want to feel valued. When they do, their productivity typically skyrockets, while the company can significantly reduce their costs to directly impact their bottom line.

Resilience isn’t a trait we may think about on a regular basis, but by having an engaged workforce, you are more likely to have a resilient one, as well. Engaged employees are more likely to be able to bounce back from setbacks because they care more about your company. They’re more eager to tackle difficult tasks because they truly want to see your business succeed. You can have the smartest, most dedicated team, but if they can’t overcome challenges, their skills won’t always make up for it.

Five Ways To Build Engagement And Resiliency In Your Workplace

Luckily, there are a few simple things you can do that will boost your team’s engagement and resilience all at once. Here are five ideas to get you started.

1. Focus On Growth

Most job seekers aren’t looking to hop around from company to company. Applicants — as well as your current employees — want to see your business is growing, as this typically means they have better job security.

When your employees feel confident in their position, they begin to think about staying with your company over the long term. Once this happens, your team will become more dedicated, engaged and resilient to any setbacks.

2. Develop An Employee Recognition System

Just like employees want to know their company is on the up-and-up, they also want recognition for all their accomplishments. Whether it’s a company newsletter, a peer nomination system or simply mentioning a few accolades at the end of your next team meeting, establishing an employee recognition process can go a long way in improving your team’s engagement and resilience.

For example, a 2015 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey on engagement and job satisfaction discovered 75 percent of employees feel their importance to an organization is the main source of their commitment to the business.

3. Be Transparent

It’s not surprising trust between management and staff plays a key role in the dynamic of the office. But it also has a significant effect on your employees’ productivity and commitment to your organization. The same SHRM survey on job satisfaction and engagement found 64 percent of employees thought trust between management and workers was a necessity in any work environment.

4. Interact On Social Media

This may come as a surprise to some, but many employees truly want to post content on social media about their workplace — especially if you give them something to talk about! One Weber Shandwick study discovered social media is essential to employee engagement.

In fact, 50 percent of engaged employees will post messages, photos and videos about their employers on their social media profiles. About 33 percent have shared positive comments without being asked to do so, and they’re almost 25 percent more likely to boost sales than any of your uncommitted team members. With numbers like that, who wouldn’t want a more engaged team?

5. Require Managers To Get On Board

As the ones who work most closely with your employees every day, it’s crucial for your department managers to be entirely on board with your company’s drive to boost engagement and resilience among your staff. Not only are your employees likely more comfortable with their managers, but they also respect them and their leadership role. By holding them accountable and requiring them to participate in employee engagement and resilience-building efforts, you’ll see better results.

There’s no question your team’s resilience and engagement are crucial to your business’ success. By following these five steps, you’ll be well on your way to seeing a more productive, committed and overall happier team.

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